08 June 2012

RoK: Joint exercises of Korean and Indian warships in waters off Busan

INS Shivalik (Wiki Info)

On a goodwill mission and a joint training exercise with the Korean Navy, four Indian naval warships on May 29 entered Busan Naval Operations Base. 

Commanded by Rear Admiral P Ajit Kumar, the Commander of the Eastern Naval Fleet Command, the visiting fleet consisted of destroyer INS Rana, frigate INS Shivalik, corvette INS Karmuk, tanker and replenishment ship INS Shakti, three helicopters and 1,200-strong crew.  

Proportionate with the size of the India’s participating naval power, that of Korea consisted of three warships including the destroyer Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin, the amphibious assault ship Hyangrobong and the frigate Daechern. 

Sailors of India visited cultural sites and played a goodwill soccer match over a few days to understand Korean culture and strengthen mutual friendship between the two navies. 

In particular, on May 31 the Korean Navy opened its warships to the public and held a joint concert with the Indian one.  

Each of the two Navies’ bands played its traditional and martial songs  An abundant variety of colorful attractions Busan municipal Korean classical music 

On June 2, following the completion of the joint exercise designed to hone joint operations capabilities and to confirm mutual operability of defense equipment, the Indian fleet sailed for its next port of call Tokyo in Japan.